Alternative Seats

[markv]

Yes, I'll definitely try and sit in some seats and see how I feel about them. I'm 6'2 so find the top of the windscreen is a little in the way - sunvisors already removed !

Sorry, I was mistaking you for someone who came along to our Southern Meet a few months ago, hence the seat suggestion.

[simonbuk]

Ok, slightly different question but don't want to start another thread.....

Can the runners be removed easily so you can drop the height a bit ?

There are spacers between the runners and the standard seats (about 20 - 25mm) which can be removed to lower the OEM seats. Only found this out when changing the seats on mine to S2000 type, didnt try out the standard seats with these removed but a nice easy way lowering your existing seats if these are still fitted.

Just gave this a go. 3 out of the 4 spacers are about 1/2 inch I guess, the 4th (the rear nearest the center of the car) is about 3/4 inch

I removed the smallest and put a couple of washers in place of where the biggest spacer went.

I believe it has made a small difference but noticable, maybe only dropped by a centimeter or so but it all helps !!

[simonbuk]

Just wondered what peoples thoughts were on these seats ? Whilst trawling through Ebay these popped up from a Peugeot 308cc, thought they looked good and don't seem to have much of a shoulder bolster on them so might m8ve back a bit more ? Seem a bit wide at the bottom as there a switch there.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Peuge ... Sw5VFWJ44A

[Elanlover]

The concern I have with seats like this that have shoulder bolsters (including Honda S2000 seats and many aftermarket ones) is that the sides can hit the B post covers. So, if you like to have your seat back a bit its harder to do it with these seats. I bought some used 911 sport seats that have aggressive side and seat bolsters but no shoulder bolsters and they fit quite nicely in the space we have and slide back further that the stock seats do.

viewtopic.php?f=79&t=14722

[simonbuk]

But this is what I'm saying, these seem quite narrow at the top compared to the flared out S2000 seats.

Was it any particular 911 or are they all fairly similar ?

[Elanlover]

It's really hard to get a sense of the size of the bolsters and how they'd fit from a picture. The S2000 seats look like they could fit when seen from a certain angle. Those seats do look like they have smaller bolsters but who knows? That's why I opted for seats without any shoulder bolsters at all.

These seats are similar to what I bought but for far less than that price. I bought them used at a wreckers then had them reskinned with a Lotus logo stitched on them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Porsche-911-964 ... op&vxp=mtr

[Bern]

Wow, lot's of replies that I've missed!!

I tried some Smart roadster seats in place, thinking that as the cars are tiny the seats would be too, but actually they wouldn't have made any difference.

In the end I raised the seats and moved them back a bit using some square section steel. The raised height meant that they cleared the B post to go back a bit further.

I'm quite tall (6'), but the extra height is no problem. Though I did have to put a hat on to keep the rain out of my eyes driving through the rain yesterday!!!

I originally found myself sliding down the seat, though this doesn't happen any more. I may try to get the original cloth/leather seats at some stage though.

[sideways]

Here are a few photos of the S2000 seats fitted in my car by the expert of seals & seats Jamie N:-







I think they really suit the car and they totally transformed the seating position for me, I am 6'1 and now fit in the car without my knees fouling on the lower dash.

Excellent, I may replace the originals with S2000 seats, I put them in my Mk1 Cortina GT and found them to be very comfortable and as a bonus, they looked the part.

Why put S2000 seats in a Cortina you ask?

They went well with the S2000 engine and gearbox I installed.

Any issues with fitting them that you are aware of?

Edit: how does the height compare with the originals?

[esprit888]

I also happen to have a spare set of these seats in the Lotus pile on the Island I have also seen them fitted to the Esprit.

[par]

Excellent, I may replace the originals with S2000 seats, I put them in my Mk1 Cortina GT and found them to be very comfortable and as a bonus, they looked the part.

Why put S2000 seats in a Cortina you ask?

They went well with the S2000 engine and gearbox I installed.

Any issues with fitting them that you are aware of?

Edit: how does the height compare with the originals?

9000 rpm in a Mk1 Cortina must have been a scream

With regards to fitting, the mounting holes as you would expect are not identical however they are not too far away so with a bit of fabrication creativity they can be made to fit.

They sit a lot lower than the standard seats but saying that the standard seats on mine were fitted on spacers from the factory which made them sit higher than they needed to be. The big difference in comfort quality I think is due to the format of the seats, the S2000 seats have padding on a shaped metal base while the Lotus seats have padding on a saggy hammock arrangement.

I am a big fan of the S2000 seats having fitted them into the Elan, a Honda CRX as well as being standard on my old S2000.